Verbinski: BioShock film deal fell apart due to R rating

Director Gore Verbinski has said the reason the BioShock movie deal feel through was due to the fact it was going to be an R-rated film instead of PG-13.

Speaking with ComingSoon, Verbinksi said the R rating suited the film more due to the subject matter of the game.

“I couldn’t really get past anybody that would spend the money that it would take to do it and keep an R rating,” said Verbinski. “Alternately, I wasn’t really interested in pursuing a PG-13 version. Because the R rating is inherent. Little Sisters and injections and the whole thing. I just wanted to really, really make it a movie where, four days later, you’re still shivering and going, ‘Jesus Christ!’… It’s a movie that has to be really, really scary, but you also have to create a whole underwater world, so the pricetag is high.

“We just didn’t have any takers on an R-rated movie with that pricetag.”

Verbinski said making the BioShock film come to life in 3D would have been a positive move as well, as some movies are more immersive with the addition of the tech.

“[Bioshock] would be a great movie to do in 3D,” he said. “I’d like to go into that world wearing a pair of glasses. I think in general, gaming is perfect for 3D. Anything where you’re the protagonist. The kid in ‘The Shining’ on the big wheel, going around corridors. That’s what 3D is perfect for. To make people feel on-edge.”

Last summer, the director said things were slowing down a bit on the movie as he didn’t “want to dumb it down,” and that the budget was becoming a concern.

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